Abstract: Various charcoal cartridges are provided herein, including a charcoal cartridge having a unitary charcoal slab and a combustible igniter layer extending across the unitary charcoal slab. In some instances, the charcoal cartridge may have a plurality of holes extending through the unitary charcoal slab and/or a flavor layer that includes wood chips.

Abstract: Various charcoal cartridges are provided herein, including a charcoal cartridge having a unitary charcoal slab and a combustible igniter layer extending across the unitary charcoal slab. In some instances, the charcoal cartridge may have a plurality of holes extending through the unitary charcoal slab and/or a flavor layer that includes wood chips.

Abstract: Artificial intelligence-driven data exchange systems and methods are disclosed herein. A method can include verifying when a merchant or brand is a participating member in an exchange ecosystem and the merchant or brand in good standing, determining if a member has sufficient exchange currency in a member account to complete a transaction, determining if the member has linked a credit or debit card to their member account, and approving the transaction based on an exchange score for the member and the credit or debit card.

Abstract: A method for managing temperature within a charcoal grill system includes: receiving a target grill temperature for a cooking chamber within the charcoal grill system; in response to receiving an ignition trigger, entering an ignition mode; during the ignition mode, activating an igniter within the charcoal grill system to ignite a charcoal cartridge arranged in a cartridge chamber within the charcoal grill system and activating a stoke fan coupled to the cartridge chamber to accelerate combustion of the charcoal cartridge; monitoring a temperature inside the charcoal grill system; in response to the temperature inside the charcoal grill system exceeding an ignition temperature, entering a temperature management mode; and during the temperature management mode, selectively activating the stoke fan and the cooling fan to maintain the cooking chamber at approximately the target grill temperature.

Abstract: Various charcoal cartridges are provided herein, including a charcoal cartridge having a unitary charcoal slab and a combustible igniter layer extending across the unitary charcoal slab. In some instances, the charcoal cartridge may have a plurality of holes extending through the unitary charcoal slab and/or a flavor layer that includes wood chips.

Abstract: A method for managing temperature within a charcoal grill system includes: receiving a target grill temperature for a cooking chamber within the charcoal grill system; in response to receiving an ignition trigger, entering an ignition mode; during the ignition mode, activating an igniter within the charcoal grill system to ignite a charcoal cartridge arranged in a cartridge chamber within the charcoal grill system and activating a stoke fan coupled to the cartridge chamber to accelerate combustion of the charcoal cartridge; monitoring a temperature inside the charcoal grill system; in response to the temperature inside the charcoal grill system exceeding an ignition temperature, entering a temperature management mode; and during the temperature management mode, selectively activating the stoke fan and the cooling fan to maintain the cooking chamber at approximately the target grill temperature.

Abstract: A method for managing temperature within a charcoal grill system includes: receiving a target grill temperature for a cooking chamber within the charcoal grill system; in response to receiving an ignition trigger, entering an ignition mode; during the ignition mode, activating an igniter within the charcoal grill system to ignite a charcoal cartridge arranged in a cartridge chamber within the charcoal grill system and activating a stoke fan coupled to the cartridge chamber to accelerate combustion of the charcoal cartridge; monitoring a temperature inside the charcoal grill system; in response to the temperature inside the charcoal grill system exceeding an ignition temperature, entering a temperature management mode; and during the temperature management mode, selectively activating the stoke fan and the cooling fan to maintain the cooking chamber at approximately the target grill temperature.

Abstract: A method for managing temperature within a charcoal grill system includes: receiving a target grill temperature for a cooking chamber within the charcoal grill system; in response to receiving an ignition trigger, entering an ignition mode; during the ignition mode, activating an igniter within the charcoal grill system to ignite a charcoal cartridge arranged in a cartridge chamber within the charcoal grill system and activating a stoke fan coupled to the cartridge chamber to accelerate combustion of the charcoal cartridge; monitoring a temperature inside the charcoal grill system; in response to the temperature inside the charcoal grill system exceeding an ignition temperature, entering a temperature management mode; and during the temperature management mode, selectively activating the stoke fan and the cooling fan to maintain the cooking chamber at approximately the target grill temperature.

Abstract: Data management systems and methods include a cloud-based platform coupled to a system of agents or folders hosted on client devices. The platform does not store actual data but instead makes use of metadata provided by the agents to track a location of all data in the system and manage the distributed storage, movement and processing of the actual data among the agents. In so doing, the platform pools networked storage into “virtual clusters” using local storage at the agents. The agents collectively monitor, store, and transfer or move data, and perform data processing operations as directed by the platform, as described in detail herein. The agents include agents hosted on or coupled to processor-based devices, agents hosted on devices of a local area network, agents hosted on devices of a wide area network, agents hosted on mobile devices, and agents hosted on cloud-based devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of a distributed data management system include a platform comprising a processor coupled to databases. A grid including agents is coupled to the platform, and each agent is an agent of the platform independently running on a client device. The agents generate and provide to the platform metadata that corresponds to the content of memory accessible by the client devices corresponding to the agents. The agents generate the metadata by hashing fragments of the content. The platform uses the metadata instead of the content to generate and assign to the agents tasks including tasks controlling at least one of storing, transferring and processing of the content. A task is a processing operation performed on content accessible by the agent responsible for the task.

Abstract: A single hand, horizontal, paper towel dispenser for paper towel rolls designed to assist in creating a tear of a selected number of sheets by providing friction from a static tear bale. The single hand dispensing device can optionally employ friction surfaces and various additional structures to allow a user to grasp paper towel segments and tear off a desired length of paper towel segments with one hand.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying video in a residence. An indication of an alert is received as communicated from a security system of a residence. The indication of the alert is communicated to a cellular telephone. A selection of a television communicated from the cellular telephone is received. The television is selected from multiple televisions located within the residence. A command is communicated to display one or more images on the selected televisions.

Abstract: A well survey system comprising an electronic survey tool for determining the inclination of a wellbore is disclosed herein with methods of use. In some embodiments, the electronic survey tool includes an electrolytic tilt sensor adapted to measure a first tilt angle within a first plane and a second tilt angle within a second plane of the electrolytic tilt sensor. The electronic survey tool also includes a system processor for determining the inclination of the wellbore based on the first and second tilt angles. As such, a drop-in replacement and improvement on a mechanical critical vertical drift (CVD) tool is provided herein. The electronic survey tool of the present invention also improves upon and overcomes the disadvantages of prior art electronic survey tools. Due to the stability of the improved survey tool over time and with changes in ambient temperature, for example, the improved survey tool does not require periodic recalibration or correction of measurements for errors and biases.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting electricity between downhole well tools and the well surface. The apparatus incorporates a surface controller in combination with a conductor and a downhole receiver module. A choke prevents electricity from the controller from entering a high voltage DC power source, and a downhole regulator converts high voltage, low current power into high current, low voltage power. This feature of the invention permits a single wire to transmit sufficient power to operate multiple downhole well tools. The controller also includes a transmitter and a modulator operable to generate an electric signal representating at least two states, wherein a first state is represented by a signal, and wherein a second state is represented by the absence of an electric signal. A receiver module receives the electric signals and selectively transmits commands to the associated well tool or to the surface controller.

Abstract: The present invention offers a touch pad cover for the touch pad of a Laptop/Notebook computer whereby the touch pad is protected from environmental conditions such as static electricity, particularly the static charge of a computer monitor when the computer is in a closed position and from the static charge transferred by the user, thus reducing the likelihood of a malfunctioning computer touch pad. These, as well as other objects of the invention, are accomplished by a cover for a touch pad of a Laptop/Notebook computer, the computer having a touch pad and an upper portion; the cover comprising an upper surface of nonconductive material (e.g. neoprene) in contact with the upper portion of the computer when the computer is in a closed position; a lower surface of nonconductive material opposite and parallel the upper surface, the lower surface in contact with the touch pad of the computer and depositing a powder residue of nonconductive material on the touch pad.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating electricity from a well surface to a downhole well tool. An electrical conductor is positioned within a sheath, and fluid is placed within a passage extending through the sheath. Electricity is transmitted to the well tool through the conductor, and the fluid prevents well fluid intrusion into the sheath interior. The fluid can be pressurized from the well surface to communicate hydraulic fluid pressure to the well tool and to provide structural rigidity to the cable system. A diverter between the sheath and the well tool can selectively direct electricity or hydraulic fluid pressure to selected portions of the well tool, or to other tools positioned in the well.

Abstract: A system for providing large quantities of power at a selected voltage to a downhole well tool. A conductor extends between a surface regulator and the well tool. The voltage is continuously measured downhole at the well tool, and a signal proportional to such downhole voltage is transmitted to the surface regulator. The power transmitted by the surface regulator to the conductor is increased or decreased depending on fluctuations in the tool requirements and the downhole voltage. The downhole voltage signal can be modulated through the conductor to the surface regulator or can be transmitted through another conductor.

Abstract: A system for extending the life span of electronic components in a high temperature well. A thermal electric cooler is located in a position thermally communicating with the electronic component in the well. The thermal electric cooler lowers the temperature of the electronic component to a temperature that retards the deterioration of the electronic component, and is particularly useful in well completion tools requiring an extended life. A vacuum is maintained about the thermal electric cooler or the electronic components to reduce convection energy losses.

Abstract: A system for extending the life span of electronic components in a high temperature well. A thermal electric cooler is located in a position thermally communicating with the electronic component in the well. The thermal electric cooler lowers the temperature of the electronic component to a temperature that retards the deterioration of the electronic component, and is particularly useful in well completion tools requiring an extended life. The cold side of the thermal electric cooler can comprise a multi chip module directly bonded to the electric component to reduce the mass and size of a packaged electronic component or integrated circuit formed with more than one electronic component.

Abstract: A well apparatus for detecting the position of a moving element in a well. Downhole well tools normally comprise a magnetically permeable material which forms a Faraday Shield to interrupt the flux of a magnet positioned within the well tool. The invention attaches a magnet to a moving element surrounded by a magnetically permeable second element, and a magnetic sensor is positioned within a recess in the second element. The magnetic sensor detects the proximate position of the magnet and generates a signal. The signal can be transmitted to a surface controller for display or for generating a command signal to displace the moving element within the second element. A single wire can transmit signals from multiple sensors in a sensor array, and the absolute position and movement rate of the moving element can be identified by the sensor array. The magnet can comprise a permanent magnet or can comprise an electromagnet.